Multi-Sensory Reading Activities

Check out this link:

5 Days of Multi-Sensory Activities for Teaching Reading

Experiencing Dyslexia

Take a moment to explore this online resource for dyslexia and other learning challenges. The link below will take you to a resource that will allow you to hear from a child their experience with learning challenges, an opportunity to experience a simuation of that experience and finally an expert explaining the challenge and how to support the student's learning.


                        Through Your Child's Eyes

Take a Tech Break

Grab your laptop, tablet or phone and explore some options for assitive technology for supporting students with the characteristics of dyslexia. Below are some links found in the Alabama Dyslexia Resource Guide. If you have any favorite apps please share in the comments section! 

vBookz PDF Voice Reader

Phonics Awareness

Audio Class Notes

This is a great resource and quick overview of common misconceptions concerning dyslexia. It is easy to read and parent friendly. Check it out!
       
      Myths (and Truths) About Dyslexia

Dyslexia Simulation Training- Region 1

ARI regional staff is offering several opportunities for educators to participate in Dyslexia Simulation Training. You can register for one of these offerings through your school systems' STI . Spaces are limited for each session, so register early.

March 8th
 Bevill State Community College, Jasper, Alabama  
 8:00am - 11:00 pm
 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

March 9th
 UNA Inservice Center, Florence, Alabama              
  8:00 am - 11:00 pm
  12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

June 6th
 Bevill State Community College, Jasper, Alabama  
 8:00am - 11:00 pm
 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

June 7th
 UNA Inservice Center, Florence, Alabama              
  8:00 am - 11:00 pm
  12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Dyslexia Support Videos

The ALSDE has posted a few videos to help clarify information and support school systems, schools and educators plan and implement the new changes regarding dyslexia support. Grab some hot cocoa on a cold night and watch these to better understand the changes.

               Dyslexia: Recognize + Reach = Read

               Dyslexia and the RTI Process

               Dyslexia - Specific Screening

Dyslexia Quick Facts

This is a great page with "fact sheets" for many topics dealing with dyslexia.

                 IDA Fact Sheets

      Alabama's Dyslexia Resource Guide

Protected Instructional Time

The staff at Parish Elementary make certain that their young readers get focused and uninterrupted time to learn every day!

Data Walls

                            Why Use Data Walls?    

           They are a visual display of progress.
         They are a powerful way to show change over time.
          They are a non- threatening form of accountability.
          They are an interactive way to track data.

New eLearning Courses

These eLearning courses are a great way to get your CEUs without traveling or searching for a substitute. Sign up with a co-worker or two to increase the learning and to add some fun! Click on the link below to view the brochure.The brochure can also be found on ALEX.

                                     CCRS eLearning Courses

Seeing rows of school supplies at the local store, my favorite store crowded with kids trying on shoes and pictures of " First Day of (insert grade level) "on Facebook are just a few tell-tale signs that a new school year has arrived. This is an exciting time of year for everyone. We see our co-workers for the first time since May and catch up on all the summer happenings. We meet new co-workers and maybe take a freshly minted teacher under our wing and show them the ropes, you know things like how to fix the copier that always jams, where the caffeine is kept and the ins and outs of lunch and bus duty.  As educators we have chosen to celebrate the first days of school for many more years than most. Enjoy this time. It is a gift that only those of us in education get to enjoy.
     Your ARI Regional Support Team is excited too! We get to see the coaches and teachers that inspire us, amaze us and encourage us with their hard work, ingenuity and willingness to dig in and make change possible. We look forward to working with you again this year and we welcome all of our new colleagues too. Remember, help is always just a call, text or email away. Have a great year!
ARI Region 1 Support Staff
Susan Thornton, Robin Tingle, Tonya Moore and Jina Smith

Region 1 Coaches get a "Hi" from Diane Sweeney

Learning with Diane Sweeney

ARI Regional Staff spent two days with Diane Sweeney, the author of Student Centered Coaching. We are so blessed to round out our year learning together!

Learning with Insight

Teachers at Red Bay Elementary and High School spent two days exploring the Alabama Insight Tool. Through exploration, collaboration and support from Region 1 ARI staff, these innovated educators took existing lessons and units and updated them using ideas from Insight. If you have not explored this great resource, take a few minutes and see what it has to offer. It is easy to navigate and is a terrific source of rigorous and standards based classroom lessons.

                      Alabama Insight Tool

Student Engagement

Picture middle school students leaning forward in their seats, discussing the learning of the day, and committed to achieving the daily outcome.  Imagine an early childhood classroom with young learners answering questions, talking with their fellow classmates, and the productive hum of learning. What can bring this to life in your classroom? Planning and practicing strategies that promote student engagement. Below is a link to a fantastic article that focuses on many aspects of student engagement. It is a great read with some new information on how to think about, plan for, and facilitate best practices for student engagement.

Closing the Engagement Gap

Many teachers are discovering the power of using a close-read process for helping students dig deeper into text. This is a great article investigating the use of the close-read process in elementary classrooms.

Close Reading in Elementary Schools- Fisher & Frey

Productive Struggle

As we work to increase the rigor in our classrooms, we will see students struggle and work harder than they have in the past. The most effective teachers recognize when the struggle to learn is increasing student knowledge and when the struggle has reached frustration level. The ultimate goal is to allow students to do the " hard work" while providing the just right level of support.

New Bethel Elementary School

 Colbert County 

Tonya Moore (ARI Regional  Staff) and Heather Collum(ARI Building Coach)

The faculty at New Bethel Elementary worked together to create a unit dealing with the continents that was based on CCRS standards and centered around the book Oh, The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss. The students had a wonderful day and worked on grade level standards at the same time. This is a great example of collaboration!